Adeleke's team calls for release of detained supporters ahead of Osun election

The campaign team of Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, is asking for the immediate release of supporters who were reportedly arrested before the upcoming governorship election. They accuse the Nigeria Police Force of targeting members of the Accord Party.

Speaking to journalists after visiting the Force Intelligence Response Team headquarters in Abuja, the campaign's spokesperson, Pelumi Olajengbesi, said more than 86 members had been arrested in Osun State without any legal reason.

He claimed the arrests were meant to intimidate opposition supporters as the election approaches.

Olajengbesi said, "We have just come out of the IRT office. In the last two to three days, over 86 people, members of our party, have been arrested for no reason. These people were brought by road to Abuja and detained here unnecessarily."

"We have met with the leadership of the police, and they cannot provide any explanation to us. There is no petition against them. These people have committed no offence."

He further claimed that 36 of the detainees were sent to the Keffi Correctional Centre, while 14 others went to the Kuje Custodial Centre, even though they had not been charged with any crime.

"Today, having visited our people in detention, we discovered that 36 have been taken to Keffi, 14 have been taken to Kuje, for no reason, for no single offence committed. This must not continue," he stated.

The campaign spokesman also accused the Osun State Commissioner of Police of compromising the electoral process.

"There is a need for us to have a free, credible election. The Commissioner of Police in Osun State is completely compromised. If he is allowed to conduct the election, the election is already compromised," he claimed.

He urged the Inspector-General of Police to step in and make sure the election is fair.

"We want the Inspector-General of Police to ensure that there is a free and fair election in Osun State. The police should do their job. People must be allowed to exercise their franchise and vote for the candidate of their choice," he said.

Olajengbesi also said that the Secretary to the Osun State Government was arrested while informing residents about the election. He added that other party leaders were also picked up without any reason.

Meanwhile, the Osun State Police Command rejected these claims and said only six suspects were arrested.

The command's spokesperson, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, told PUNCH Online that, contrary to the campaign's claims, all suspects were adults and were arrested based on reliable intelligence.

"Just six persons were arrested. All adults. The youngest among them should be 40 years. Six persons were arrested, not 56," the police spokesperson said.

He also denied claims that security operatives invaded the homes of government officials.

"The police did not invade the houses of commissioners. They only went based on information. They arrested these people in the house of the SSG," he added.

In response to the campaign's call for the removal of the Commissioner of Police, the spokesman said that decision is beyond the officer.

"The CP himself has responded to that. He said it is their choice. He’s not the one to remove himself. He was posted there by the Inspector-General of Police," he said.